Environmentally acceptable surfactants applied for water-based paraffin control—novel technologies sustaining production of challenging Australian crudes
Farrell Backus A , Hans Oschmann A , Mike Gunn A and Evan Harvey AA Nalco Champion
B Santos Ltd
The APPEA Journal 54(1) 305-312 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13030
Published: 2014
Abstract
The use of environmentally acceptable surfactants in water-based products—as opposed to hydrocarbon-based products—offers significant benefits both from an environmental and performance perspective.
Water, being a polar solvent, has a very limited capacity to dissolve non-polar hydrocarbons; however, a new generation of environmentally acceptable, novel surfactants has allowed the development of water-based wax removal technology that effectively penetrates layers of waxy deposits, and dissolves and disperses the removed paraffin. A conspicuous property of this new water-based paraffin remover is its ability (similar to some corrosion inhibitors) to migrate over surfaces resulting in the treatment of deposits not originally wetted by the product.
The continuous application of environmentally acceptable surfactants in multiphase transport systems has not only prevented paraffin deposit formation but also has allowed for the removal of persistent paraffin deposits. These new chemistries have had excellent success in many areas, including Australian production fields. Cooper Basin field studies have shown that the application of these surfactants have significantly increased production through reduced downtime during winter months where high wax content producing wells traditionally would shut down due to flow line restrictions.
This paper will review the selection and the application of these new surfactants in two Australian field locations.
Farrell Backus has more than 17 years of combined experience in oilfield chemistry and operations. His career started in Canada, where he studied steam engineering and gas plant operations. Operational experience opened opportunities for diversification into oilfield chemistry with Champion Technologies (now Nalco Champion). Farrell worked as an account manager and enhanced business coordinator in western Canada. In 2005, Farrell moved to Australia and managed key accounts in SA and southwest Queensland. Farrell was promoted to Technical Manager—Australia in 2010 and supports all technical requirements within Australasia from Perth. Farrell.Backus@champ-tech.com |
Prof. Dr Hans-Jörg Oschmann started his career at the Clausthal University of Technology, Germany, where he received his MSc in chemistry in 1992. Afterwards, Hans-Jörg joined the German Petroleum Institute where he received his PhD for his research on paraffin asphaltene interactions in 1998. In 2002 Hans-Jörg joined Champion Technologies (now Nalco Champion) where he became the section manager for eastern hemisphere flow assurance in Delden, The Netherlands. Most recently he was appointed professor at the NTNU University in Norway where he is focusing his research on developing a fundamental understanding of the structure performance relationships between production chemicals and crude oils with a high wax content. Hans-Jörg holds a number of patents related to chemical applications to prevent paraffin deposition and gelling, and has published numerous papers both on chemistries and applications related to flow assurance. Hans.Oschmann@champ-tech.com |
Mike Gunn has 32 years of professional experience in the oil and gas industry. Mike’s experience spans assets in the North Sea, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. With eight years in North Sea production operations and 10 years as an industry consultant, the last 14 years of Mike’s career has been with Santos Ltd. Mike holds the position of staff chemist and is based in Adelaide. Mike.Gunn@santos.com |
Evan Harvey is a Curtin University BSc graduate and joined Champion Technologies (now Nalco Champion) in August 2007. Prior to joining Champion, Evan worked at BHP Billiton Nickel West as a process technician, and at Australasian Lubricant Manufacturing Company (ALMC) as a process chemist. During his time at Nalco Champion Evan has provided technical assistance to the Australasia region as a field chemist and account manager. Evan relocated to Adelaide in 2010 to manage and provide technical support to various clients in the Cooper Basin. Evan.Harvey@champ-tech.com |
